LUISÃO

With more than 500 appearances for Benfica, Luisão is captain of the eagles, with whom he won the league title six times. The centre-back also represented Brazil National Team.

He has the eagle crest upon his chest since 2003

, year in which he ended his chapter at

Cruzeiro

, from where he left as league winner.

Six times Portuguese champion

– record to which he adds successes in all the other domestic competitions, in an increasingly filled curriculum –, the defender born in Amparo, in Brazil, is the oldest member of Benfica’s squad – he made his debut on September 14th, 2003, in the clash with Belenenses.

He has already surpassed the historic milestone of 500 games for the Four-time Champions

– he reached that number on February 14th, 2017, against Borussia Dortmund, in a Champions League match, at Estádio da Luz.

His five hundred matches prompted a heartfelt tribute from the president Luís Filipe Vieira, with whom he has been trailing a common history in the club and a history filled with successes: 6 Championships, 3 Portuguese Cups, 4 Super Cups and 7 League Cups.

The most titled member of the squad, the captain has already surpassed Coluna (518 matches) and moved to the third position of the list of players with the most appearances for the reds, having now Veloso (535) and Nené (578) on sight. Leader of the dressing room, he is one of the symbols of Benfica’s Mysticism.